Anirban envisages to travel a distance of 2,00,000 kilometers both land and sea, covering more than 700 colleges of 100 countries in seven continents by 2019.

Cycling for sport or fun is common, but here is a youth from Kolkata who has set off on a mission of going around the world on a bicycle. Anirban Acharya a 29-year-old social worker is on a cancer awareness drive who set off from Delhi on June 5. Anirban envisages to travel a distance of 2,00,000 kilometers both land and sea, covering more than 100 countries in seven continents by 2019.

Anirban, who reached Udaipur on Monday has been meeting students and teachers in various colleges and schools and spreading awareness on the importance of early detection and prevention of cancer.

With a commerce education background, what led Anirban to work for a medical cause had been his concern over the haphazard lifestyle specially of the youth, which he asserts, is leading towards health risks.

“A WHO report says that 70% of cancers are due to unhealthy life style while 19% of the disease arise out of pollution, dust and radioactive substances” said Anirban in his interaction with students and faculty members at the University College of Social Science and Humanities here.

Early detection and timely treatment can cure cancer against the general conception of its being incurable and contagious, he added. “82 million people died of cancer in 2012 but the saddest part is 30% of the deaths could have been prevented,  had it been detected in earlier stages” Anirban said.

The disturbing figures inspired the youth to take up an adventurous awareness drive, that too, on a cycle to draw attention of the public far and wide. “One of the great joys of long distance cycling is that it breaks down social walls. People from all walks of life love to talk to cyclists. Your ride can become a platform to raise general awareness about your cause among the people you meet. I have chalked out a plan to visit some 700 educational institutions during the entire trip” he said.

He also advised people to stay off from tobacco and junk food as preventive measure to cancer. On an average, Anirban rides 70 to 80 kilometers in a day. For a night halt, he chose any place like a Dharamshala or a temple, Gurudwara even police stations, wherever he is offered shelter.  His modified cycle which is also GPS enabled, guides him from going astray.

Anirban proposes to cycle through Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and then onward to Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Russia, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa etc. “The trip is estimated to cost around Rs. 40 Lac both land and sea, which would be completed by 2019. Shrishti foundation, an NGO has helped me in raising an initial fund, but I have been approaching corporates, social clubs and even government agencies for sponsorship” Anirban said.

Contributed by: Geetha Sunil Pillai